System and method for distributing geographically restricted video data in an internet protocol television system

ABSTRACT

A system including but not limited to a computer program comprising instructions that when executed by a server computer, determines a plurality of geographic restriction zones and instructions to determine a plurality of different duration time delays for each of a plurality of geographic restriction zones.

RELATED CASES

This patent application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.11/497,922 filed on Aug. 1, 2006 entitled A Method And Apparatus ForDistributing Geographically Restricted Video Data In An InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) System by Jankins et al., which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety and Ser. No. 12/843,757 filedon Jul. 26, 2010 entitled A Method And Apparatus For DistributingGeographically Restricted Video Data In An Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) System by Jankins et al., which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety and Ser. No. 12/962,870 filed on Dec. 8, 2010entitled A Method And Apparatus For Distributing GeographicallyRestricted Video Data In An Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Systemby Jankins et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to distributing geographically restrictedvideo data.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, with the proliferation of sources of television (TV)programming including conventional terrestrially broadcast TV, cable TV,and satellite-delivered TV, numerous programming choices exist for aconsumer. Consumers often desire to have a guide which shows theprogramming choices available at various times. The magazine, TV Guide,is one well-known example of a printed programming guide. More recently,electronic program guides (EPGs) have become available for viewing onscreen by a television audience.

While printed program guides have enjoyed success over the years, theyhave some drawbacks. First of all, with the large number of programmingchoices at any given time, it becomes increasingly difficult for aconsumer to make a selection. This difficulty is compounded by the factthat a typical printed guide is usually printed for a designatedmarketing area (DMA), which, in a very crude approximation, is generallyan area of about a 100-mile radius from the location of the broadcasttowers. Numerous independent municipalities are located within everyDMA. This can result in a programming guide which contains programswhich are not available to a particular customer. For example, sincethere are often several independent cable TV providers servicing thevarious communities in a DMA, with each cable TV company providingdifferent services, any one viewer may need to sift through programmingwhich is not accessible to them.

Moreover, certain programs are not available because the programs areblacked out with a certain radius of the event. For example, a footballgame may be blacked out in a city where it is being played to encourageviewers to buy tickets and actually attend the game rather than watchingthe game on television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of aninternet protocol television (IPTV) system and geographical restrictionzones; and

FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic diagram of an electronic programguide (EPG) sent to a client device in an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an example of a schematic diagram of an EPG containing feesand available video data programming, sent to a client device in anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an example of a schematic diagram of a data structure forstoring restriction data in an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an example of functions performed in an illustrativeembodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theillustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of a particular embodiment a method is disclosed fordistributing geographical restriction data in an internet protocoltelevision (IPTV) system. The method includes accepting at an IPTVserver, a request from an IPTV client for the restriction data relatedto geographically restricted video data; determining at the server, aplurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographicallyrestricted video data; and sending from the server to the client amessage containing the restriction data related to at least one of theplurality of restriction zones.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the message furtherincludes electronic program guide (EPG) formatted data containing therestriction data. In another aspect of a particular embodiment theclient comprises an IPTV set top box (STB), the method further includesselecting one of the plurality of restriction zones containing theclient and determining a fee for receiving the video data in theselected restriction zone, the EPG further comprises the fee. In anotheraspect of a particular embodiment the restriction zone is selected usinga geographical information system to determine a spatial relationshipbetween the client and the restriction zone.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the method further includesaccepting at the server, from the client, a selection from the EPG datarequesting the video data and sending the requested video data from theserver to the remote client. In another aspect of a particularembodiment the message further comprises data indicating IPTV set topboxes in each of the plurality of restriction zones and the client is aservice provider in the IPTV system. In another aspect of a particularembodiment the message further comprises IPTV clients selected from thegroup consisting of clients that are receiving the video data in each ofthe restriction zones and newly installed (in service less than 30 days)STBs in each of the restriction zones.

In another particular embodiment a method for receiving geographicalrestriction data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system isdisclosed. The method includes selecting, at an IPTV client device in ageographic restriction zone, an electronic program guide (EPG) listingfor a geographically restricted video data segment; sending from theclient device a request for restriction data for the selected video datasegment to an IPTV server; and receiving at the IPTV client device therestriction data in an EPG data format for the selected video data fromthe IPTV server.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the restriction datafurther includes data indicating a fee for receiving the video data atthe IPTV client device. In another aspect of a particular embodiment themethod further includes sending a request for the video data from theclient device to an IPTV server and receiving at the client device thevideo data from the IPTV server.

In another particular embodiment a computer readable medium containing acomputer program for distributing geographical restriction data in aninternet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed. The computerprogram includes instructions to accept at an IPTV server, a requestfrom an IPTV client for the restriction data related to geographicallyrestricted video data; instructions to determine at the server, aplurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographicallyrestricted video data; and instructions to send from the server to theclient a message containing the restriction data related to at least oneof the plurality of restriction zones.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the message furtherincludes an electronic program guide (EPG) formatted data containing therestriction data. In another aspect of a particular embodiment theclient comprises an IPTV set top box, the computer program furtherincludes instructions to select one of the plurality of restrictionzones containing the client and determining a fee for receiving thevideo data in the selected restriction zone, the EPG further includesthe fee.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the restriction zone isselected using a geographical information system to determine a spatialrelationship between the client and the restriction zone. In anotheraspect of a particular embodiment the computer program further includesinstructions to accept at the server, from the client a selection fromthe EPG requesting the video data and instructions to send the requestedvideo data from the server to the remote client. In another aspect of aparticular embodiment the message further comprises data indicating IPTVset top boxes in each of the plurality of restriction zones and theclient further comprises a service provider in the IPTV system.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the message furthercomprises IPTV clients selected from the group consisting of clientsthat are receiving the video data in each of the restriction zones andnew STBs in each of the restriction zones.

In another particular embodiment a computer readable medium forcontaining a computer program for receiving geographical restrictiondata in an internet protocol television (IPTV). The computer programincludes instructions to select, at an IPTV client device in ageographic restriction zone, an electronic program guide (EPG) listingfor a geographically restricted video data segment; instructions to sendfrom the client device a request for restriction data for the selectedvideo data segment to an IPTV server; and instructions to receive at theIPTV client device the restriction data in EPG data for the selectedvideo data from the IPTV server.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the restriction datafurther includes data indicating a fee for receiving the video data atthe IPTV client device. In another aspect of a particular embodiment thecomputer program further includes instructions to send a request for thevideo data from the client device to an IPTV server and instructions toreceive at the client device the video data from the IPTV server.

In another particular embodiment a data structure in memory isdisclosed. The data structure includes a video data identifier field forcontaining data indicating an identifier for a geographically restrictedvideo data segment; a video event location field for containing dataindicative of a locus (geographic location) of a video event locationfor the geographically restricted video segment; a geographical radiusrestriction distances field for containing data which indicates theradius of the geographical restriction zones relative to the video eventlocation; and a first restriction zone price field for containing dataindicating a fee for viewing the geographically restricted video data atan STB in a first restriction zone associated with the video dataidentifier.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the data structure furtherincludes a restriction zone radius field for containing data indicatinga radius of a second restriction zone relative to the locus of theevent; a second restriction zone price field is provided for containingdata indicating a fee or price for viewing the geographically restrictedvideo data segment data at an STB in a second restriction zoneassociated with the video data identifier; a third restriction zoneradius field for containing data indicating a radius of a thirdrestriction zone relative to the locus of the event; and a thirdrestriction zone price field for containing data indicating a fee forviewing the geographically restricted video data associated with thevideo data identifier at an STB in a third restriction zone.

In another particular embodiment in an IPTV system having a graphicaluser interface (GUI) including a display and a selection device, amethod of providing and selecting from the GUI on the display isdisclosed. The method includes receiving electronic program guide (EPG)formatted data containing listings for geographic restricted video data;displaying the EPG formatted data on the display; receiving a first EPGlisting selection signal indicative of the selection device pointing ata first selected EPG listing; and in response to the selection signal,sending data indicating a request to an IPTV server requestinggeographic restriction data for the first selected EPG listing.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment the method further includesreceiving the geographic restriction data; displaying the restrictiondata in an EPG format on the display; receiving a second EPG listingselection signal indicative of the selection device pointing at a secondEPG selected EPG listing; and in response to the second signal, sendinga request for the geographically restricted video data to an IPTV serverrequesting the geographically restricted video data. In another aspectof a particular embodiment the method further includes receiving thegeographically restricted video data from the IPTV server.

In an illustrative embodiment, geographic location information isobtained from a geographic information system (GIS), or from othersystems for providing a position signal, is used to determine at aserver in an IPTV system whether or not a processor at a remote client,for example a set top box (STB) requesting the information is within arestricted (or limited) or non-restricted geographic zone (therestricted and non-restricted geographic zones are referred to as“restriction zones”). This determination can be made by any suitableprocedure, including, but not limited to, comparing the geographicinformation provided by the recipient processor (STB) and positioningsystem with a list of non-restricted or non-limited (or restricted)geographic locations or regions. Thus, according to some illustrativeembodiments, geographically restricted video data may be provided or notprovided to a client such as an IPTV STB (that is, access to the videodata may be allowed or denied) dependent on the geographic informationprovided by the recipient (remote client) processor. If a recipient(remote client, i.e., STB) processor provides geographic informationcorresponding to a restricted geographic location or region, then thevideo data server/provider processor will be controlled to not provideselective information to the recipient (remote client) processor. On theother hand, if a recipient (remote client) processor provides geographicinformation corresponding to a non-restricted geographic location orregion or a restriction zone in which the video data is available for afee, then the provider processor (server) is controlled to provide theselective information geographically restricted video data to therecipient client.

In further embodiments, a set of rules may be implemented, which dependupon the geographic information or a spatial relationship between theclient STB and the restriction zones (and, thus, the geographic locationor region of the recipient processor), such that various restrictions orlimitations may be implemented for various geographic locations orregions. Thus, if a recipient processor provides geographic informationcorresponding to a first geographic location or region, then theprovider processor may be controlled to not provide geographicallyrestricted video data to the recipient processor, unless furtherrequirements are met. Other geographic locations or regions may beassociated with similar or other requirements, limitations orrestrictions to the access of information from the provider processor.

A geographic information or geographical information system (GIS) is asystem for creating, storing, analyzing and managing spatial data andassociated attributes. In the strictest sense, it is a computer systemcapable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing, sharing, anddisplaying geographically-referenced information. In a more genericsense, GIS is a tool that allows users to create interactive queries(user created searches), analyze the spatial information, and edit data.The GIS can accept an STB street address or latitude longitude positionand geographic restriction zone data to determine whether a fee isrequired to view video data at a particular STB.

GIS location information can be created through geocoding. Geocoding iscalculating spatial locations (X,Y coordinates) from street addresses. Areference theme is required to geocode individual addresses, such as aroad centerline file with address ranges. The individual addresslocations are interpolated, or estimated, by examining address rangesalong a road segment. These are usually provided in the form of a tableor database. The GIS will then place a marker approximately where thataddress belongs along the segment of centerline. For example, an addresspoint of 500 will be at the midpoint of a line segment that starts withaddress 1 and ends with address 1000. Geocoding can also be appliedagainst actual parcel data, typically from municipal tax maps. In thiscase, the result of the geocoding will be an actually positioned spaceas opposed to an interpolated point.

Various algorithms are used to help with address matching when thespellings of addresses differ. Address information that a particularentity or organization has data on, such as the post office, may notentirely match the reference theme. There could be variations in streetname spelling, community name, etc. Consequently, the user generally hasthe ability to make matching criteria more stringent, or to relax thoseparameters so that more addresses will be mapped. Care must be taken toreview the results so as not to erroneously map addresses incorrectlydue to overzealous matching parameters.

Geocoding is the process of assigning geographic identifiers (e.g.,codes or geographic coordinates expressed as latitude-longitude) to mapfeatures and other data records, such as street addresses. One can alsogeocode media, for example where a picture was taken, IP Addresses, andanything that has a geographic component. With geographic coordinates,the features can then be mapped and entered into the GIS. A geocoder isa piece of software or a (web) service that helps in this process.

Address interpolation makes use of street GIS data, where the streetnetwork is already mapped within the geographic coordinate space. Eachstreet segment is attributed with address ranges (e.g., house numbersfrom one segment to the next). Geocoding takes an address, matches it toa street and specific segment (such as a block, in towns that use the“block” convention). Geocoding then interpolates the position of theaddress, within the range along the segment.

Other means of geocoding might include locating a point at the centroid(center) of a land parcel, if parcel (property) data is available in theGIS database. In rural areas or other places lacking high quality streetnetwork data and addressing, GPS is useful for mapping a location. Fortraffic accidents, geocoding to a street intersection or midpoint alonga street centerline is a suitable technique. It is also possible to usea combination of these geocoding techniques—using a particular techniquefor certain cases and situations and other techniques for other cases.

Reverse geocoding is the process of returning an estimated streetaddress number as it relates to a given coordinate. For example, a usercan click on a road centerline theme (thus providing a coordinate) andhave information returned that reflects the estimated house number. Thishouse number is interpolated from a range assigned to that road segment.If the user clicks at the midpoint of a segment that starts with address1 and ends with 100, the returned value will be somewhere near 50. Notethat reverse geocoding does not return actual addresses, only estimatesof what should be there based on the predetermined range.

Recently an international foundation (OSGEO) was started to support andbuild the highest-quality open source geospatial software. With thebroad use of non-proprietary and open data formats such as the ShapeFile format for vector data and the Geotiff format for raster data, aswell as the adoption of Open Geo spatial Consortium (OGC) protocols suchas Web Mapping Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS), developmentof open source software continues to evolve, especially for web and webservice oriented applications. Well-known open source GIS softwareincludes GRASS GIS, Quantum GIS, MapServer, GDAL/OGR, PostGIS, uDig,OpenJUMP, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 1 in an illustrative embodiment video data isdelivered at a national level in an internet protocol television (IPTV)system 100 to a super head end (SHO) 102. The video data is distributedto various regional video head ends (VHO) 104. The video data isdistributed from the VHOs 104 to various central offices (COs) 106. Thevideo data is distributed from the COs to intermediate offices (IOs)108. The intermediate offices (IOs) deliver the video data to numerousclient devices or set top boxes (STBs) 110. Each IPTV server 120, videohead end 104, super head end 102, and set top box 110 each contain aprocessor 130, memory 132, and database 134. The processor is in datacommunication with the memory. A set of instructions may be stored inthe memory along with data comprising the database. Each STB has one ormore displays 112 associated with the STB. Each display is capable ofdisplaying an electronic program guide (EPG) 114. Each set top box alsohas a remote control 116 for entering data and controlling the cursor ondisplay 114. A user or subscriber to the IPTV system may select alisting appearing on the electronic program guide at the display 112 bymanipulating remote control 116 to move a cursor over the EPG listingand clicking on the listing to select it. Selection of the EPG listingcauses the STB to send a request to an upstream server such as an TO,CO, VHO or SHO in IPTV system. This selection travels from the set topbox 110 through the intermediate office 108 to the IPTV server 120. TheIPTV server 120 is a source for the electronic program guide which datarepresented in the electronic program guide can be stored in the IPTVserver database 134.

The IPTV server 120 accepts an input from either the subscriber at settop box 111 or from a service provider at 118. The IPTV server may belocated at any IPTV system node, i.e., the SHO, VHO, CO or IO. Theservice provider (SP) 118 is provided with an input device 119 forrequesting data from the IPTV server. The IPTV server 120 also hasaccess to subscriber profiles 122, geographic restriction rules 123, anda graphical information system (GIS) 124.

In an illustrative embodiment an electronic program guide (EPG) (alsoreferred to as a graphical user interface) is transmitted from the IPTVserver 120 to the set top box 111 and displayed on STD display 112. Asubscriber at the STB selects an entry (listing) from the EPG 114 andhis selection is transferred back from the STB to the IPTV server 120.The IPTV server determines which geographically restricted video datalisting a user has selected and obtains the rules from the rulesdatabase 123. Thus the IPTV server need generate and send an EPGcontaining restriction data only upon request from a client device(i.e., STB). The data for generating the EPG is stored in the IPTVserver database.

The geographic restriction rules may be based on the type of programsselected or other criteria including but not limited to a geographicalrestriction. For example, a selection of a football game may havegeographic restriction rules requiring that the game be blacked within35 miles from the center of the stadium at which the football game isbeing played, for example, when the game is not sold out before gametime. There may also be rules allowing broadcast of the game in variousother restricted geographic zones for a fee. Thus, in an illustrativeembodiment, a first zone restriction might require a complete black outof the football game within 35 miles of the stadium. In a secondrestriction zone within 35-45 miles from the stadium a fee of $5 may becharged. In a third restriction zone 45-100 miles from the stadiumanother fee of, for example, $2 may be charged. In a fourth restrictionzone within 100-500 miles from the stadium another fee of $1 may becharged for viewing the football game. In another illustrativeembodiment a time restriction may be added to viewing in a particularrestriction zone. For example, to provide an incentive toward actualgame attendance, the closer a restriction zone is to an event, thelonger delay imposed on viewing an event over the IPTV network. In theabove example, in the first restriction zone, the game can be blockedout for the first hour, block out for the first 30 minutes in the secondrestriction zone and no delay in the third and fourth restriction zones.

In another illustrative embodiment an input from input device 119 at theservice provider (SP) 118 may request a listing of set top boxes in eachof the restriction zones 128, 136, 138, and 140. In another illustrativeembodiment of a listing of set top boxes which are viewing or receivinga particular event in each restriction zone may be requested and listedat the service provider display 121. The STBs that are registered andnewly registered (within 30 days) can be listed as well.

Turning now to FIG. 2 the electronic program guide (EPG) 114 is shown inan illustrative embodiment. For example, data for displaying an EPG canbe sent from the IPTV server 120 to an IPTV client set top box 110 asillustrated in FIG. 1. The EPG data may consist of Major League baseballgames 202, basketball games 206, National Football League games 208, andNational Hockey League games 210. The EPG data will also present an icon204 to enable a subscriber at the STB to click on for fees andavailability in each one of the categories. For example, a user can usethe remote control 116 to select or click on Major League baseball games202 and click on the “Click for fees and availability” icon 204. Thisselection sends a request from the STB to the IPTV server requestingfees and availability for viewing MLB games at the STB location.

Turning now to FIG. 3 when the subscriber or user clicks on the “Clickfor Fees and Availability” icon 204 for Major League baseball games theEPG data that is displayed as EPG 114 of FIG. 3 is sent from the IPTVserver to the set top box. As shown in FIG. 3 the IPTV server returnsEPG data to display a listing of Major League baseball games availableto the remote client and user in the geographic location or restrictionzone in which the user resides. For example, the New York Yankees versusthe Boston Red Sox can be received and viewed at the STB location for $4as shown in the EPG of FIG. 3 in box 302. The Houston Astros versus theChicago Cubs can be received and viewed at the STB location for $1, asshown in EPG listing 304. The Los Angeles Dodgers versus the AnaheimAngels can be received and viewed at the STB location for $2, as shownin EPG listing 306.

Each one of the EPG listings 302 304, 306 in the EPG shown in FIG. 3 canbe selected by clicking on a “Click to View” icon 308 next to thedesired EPG listing 302, 304 or 306. The “Click to View” icon 308 isselected when a user manipulates the STB remote control input device anda signal or message including data indicating that the Click to Viewicon for a particular video data segment has been selected, is returnedto the IPTV server. Upon receipt of the Click to View selection signalat the IPTV server, the geographic restricted video data becomesavailable to the subscriber at the STB from which the Click to Viewselection signal or message originated. The IPTV server then sends thevideo data to the STB for the subscriber.

Upon selection of a particular category from the EPG data delivered fromthe IPTV server as shown in FIG. 2 the IPTV server accepts an inputrequest and performs analysis on the input request to determine theavailability of the geographically restricted video data to thesubscriber at the originating STB in the particular restriction zone inwhich the STB is located. STB ID data is communicated in a message orsignal from the STB to the IPTV server upon selection of an EPG listing204 so that the IPTV server can retrieve a subscriber profile for theSTB ID. The subscriber profile includes a geographic location such asstreet address or latitude and longitude locations for the STB. The IPTVserver 120 takes the street address, latitude and longitude orgeographic location of the STB and sends it to the geographicinformation system (GIS) 124. The IPTV server 120 also provides acentral locus or geographic location for the event from which the videodata originates, for example, the location of a center of a stadium fora MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL or professional football game. The IPTV serverthen determines by the distance between (spatial relationship) the locusof the event 126 and the locus of the STB in which restriction zone theSTB is located relative to the location of the event 126. By determiningthe restriction zone in which the STB is located the IPTV server thencan apply the geographic restriction rules from the rules database 123to determine in which zone the STB is located and what fee orrestriction applies to the STB based on the distance of the STB from thelocus of the event upon which the geographic restricted fee data isbased. Geographic restriction rules include but are not limited togeographic radii or restriction zones for geographically restrictedvideo data and fees for viewing the video data in each zone.

Turning now to FIG. 4 a data structure 400 is illustrated which isutilized an illustrative embodiment. The data structure is embodied in acomputer readable medium such as a memory for storing data in the datafields of the data structure. A video data identifier 401 field isprovided in the data structure which contains data indicating anidentifier for a geographically restricted video data segment. A videoevent location field 402 is provided in the data structure forcontaining data indicative of a locus of a video event location. Ageographical radius restriction distances field 404 is provided in thedata structure for containing data which indicates the radius of thegeographical restriction zones relative to the video event location. Arestriction zone radius field 406 is provided in the data structure forcontaining data indicating a radius of a first restriction zone relativeto the locus of the event. A restriction zone 1 price field 408 isprovided in the data structure for containing data indicating a fee orprice for viewing the geographically restricted video data at STB inrestriction zone 1 associated with the video data identifier. Arestriction zone radius field 410 is provided in the data structure forcontaining data indicating a radius of a second restriction zonerelative to the locus of the event. A restriction zone 2 price field 412is provided in the data structure for containing data indicating a feeor price for viewing the geographically restricted video data segmentdata at STB in restriction zone 2 associated with the video dataidentifier. A restriction zone radius field 414 is provided in the datastructure for containing data indicating a radius of a third restrictionzone relative to the locus of the event. A restriction zone 3 pricefield 416 is provided in the data structure for containing dataindicating a fee or price for viewing the geographically restrictedvideo data at STB in restriction zone 3 associated with the video dataidentifier.

Turning now to FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method fordistributing geographically restricted video data in an internetprotocol television (IPTV) system. The IPTV server accepts a request forgeographical restriction data for geographically restricted video datafrom the IPTV client device at 502. The IPTV server determines thegeographic restriction zones for the geographically restricted videodata at 504. The IPTV server sends the client a message containing therestriction data for at one of geographic restriction zones at 506. TheIPTV server sends a message that includes an electronic program guide(EPG) data containing the restriction data at 508. The IPTV STB selectsone of the plurality of restriction zones containing the client anddetermines a fee for receiving the video data in the selectedrestriction zone, the EPG further includes the fee the sending furtherincludes sending the message to the client at 510. The restriction zoneis selected using a geographical information system to determine aspatial relationship between the client and the restriction zone at 512.The IPTV server accepts from the client a selection from the EPGrequesting the video data and sends the requested video data to theremote client at 514. In a particular embodiment, the message is sent toa service provider input/display device or other IPTV system monitoringdevice and the message includes data indicating IPTV STBs in each of theplurality of restriction zones at 516. In another particular embodiment,the message may also include IPTV clients selected from the groupconsisting of clients that are receiving the video data in each of therestriction zones and new STBs (i.e., STBs registered with the IPTVsystem for 30 days or less) in each of the restriction zones at 518. TheIPTV client device in a geographic restriction zone selects an EPGlisting for a geographically restricted video data segment at 520. Theclient device sends a request for restriction data for the selectedvideo data segment to an IPTV server at 522. The IPTV client devicereceives the restriction data for the selected video data from the IPTVserver at 524. The restriction data further includes a fee for receivingthe video data at the IPTV client device at 526. A request is sent forthe video data from the client device to an IPTV server and the videodata from the IPTV server is received at the client device at 528.

Turning now to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of amachine in the form of a computer system 600 within which a set ofinstructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein. In some embodiments, themachine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, themachine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In anetworked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, aclient user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-topbox (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, amobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant, a communications device, awireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, ascanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusteddevice, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the illustrative includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 600 may include a processor 602 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), amain memory 604 and a static memory 606, which communicate with eachother via a bus 608. The computer system 600 may further include a videodisplay unit 610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system600 may include an input device 612 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 614 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 616, a signal generationdevice 618 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 620.

The disk drive unit 616 may include a machine-readable medium 622 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 624)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. Theinstructions 624 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 604, the static memory 606, and/or within theprocessor 602 during execution thereof by the computer system 600. Themain memory 604 and the processor 602 also may constitutemachine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the illustrative embodiment,the methods described herein are intended for operation as softwareprograms running on a computer processor. Furthermore, softwareimplementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processingor component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, orvirtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement themethods described herein.

The illustrative embodiment contemplates a machine readable mediumcontaining instructions 624, or that which receives and executesinstructions 624 from a propagated signal so that a device connected toa network environment 626 can send or receive voice, video or data, andto communicate over the network 626 using the instructions 624. Theinstructions 624 may further be transmitted or received over a network626 via the network interface device 620.

While the machine-readable medium 622 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the illustrative embodiment. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to:solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that housesone or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories,or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or opticalmedium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signalembodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or adigital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained informationarchive or set of archives is considered a distribution mediumequivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the illustrativeembodiment is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the illustrative embodiment is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “illustrativeembodiment” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarilylimit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventiveconcept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specificembodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should beappreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purposemay be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosureis intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of variousembodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and otherembodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to thoseof skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto several illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the wordsthat have been used are words of description and illustration, ratherthan words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of theappended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the illustrative embodiment in its aspects.Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is notintended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, theinvention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods,and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present illustrativeembodiment, the methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs running on a computer processor. Dedicated hardwareimplementations including, but not limited to, application specificintegrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardwaredevices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods describedherein. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, butnot limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributedprocessing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can alsobe constructed to implement the methods described herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for distributing geographicallyrestricted video data in an internet protocol television system, thesystem comprising: a first computer program embedded in a non-transitorymachine readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by aserver computer, determine at least three geographic restriction zonesfor the geographically restricted video data and instructions todetermine at least three different duration time delays for each of atleast three geographic restriction zones, wherein the at least threegeographic restriction zones are based on physical proximity of aninternet protocol television client device to a geographic origin of thegeographically restricted video data.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe geographic restriction data further comprises fee data for thegeographically restricted video data.
 3. The system of claim 2, thesystem further comprising: a second computer program embedded in thenon-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions to selectone of the at least three geographic restriction zones containing theinternet protocol television set top box and determining a fee forreceiving the geographically restricted video data in the selectedgeographic restriction zone.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the atleast three geographic restriction zones is selected using ageographical information system to determine a spatial relationshipbetween the internet protocol television client device and each of theplurality of the geographic restriction zones.
 5. The system of claim 1,the system further comprising: a third internet protocol televisionserver interface for accepting from the internet protocol televisionclient device a selection from the electronic program guide datarequesting the geographically restricted video data; and a fourth serverinterface for sending the requested geographically restricted video datafrom the internet protocol television server to the internet protocoltelevision client device.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein theelectronic program guide data further comprises data indicating internetprotocol television client devices located in each of the at least threegeographic restriction zones.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein theelectronic program guide data further comprises a list of internetprotocol television client devices selected from the group consisting ofinternet protocol television client devices that are receiving thegeographically restricted video data in each of the at least threegeographic restriction zones and new client devices in each of thegeographic restriction zones.
 8. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second internet protocol television server interface forsending electronic program guide data containing the geographicrestriction data for at least one of the at least three geographicrestriction zones wherein the geographically restricted video data isavailable with a shorter time delay in a geographic restriction zonefarther from a geographic origin of the geographically restricted videodata.
 9. A system for receiving geographically restricted video data inan internet protocol television system comprising: a first internetprotocol television client device processor interface for selecting anelectronic program guide data listing indicating at least three fees forreceiving the geographically restricted video data at the internetprotocol television client device wherein the first internet protocoltelevision client device processor makes the geographically restrictedvideo data available with a shorter time delay in at least twogeographic restriction zones farther from the geographic origin of thegeographically restricted video data.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereinthe electronic program guide data further comprises fee data for thegeographically restricted video data.
 11. The system of claim 9, whereina geographic restriction zone is selected using a geographicalinformation system to determine a spatial relationship between aninternet protocol television client device and the geographicrestriction zone.
 12. The system of claim 9, the system furthercomprising: a fourth internet protocol television client deviceprocessor interface for receiving the requested geographicallyrestricted video data from the server to the client device.
 13. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the electronic program guide data furthercomprises data indicating a list of internet protocol television clientdevices in each of at least three geographic restriction zones.
 14. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the electronic program guide data furthercomprises a list of internet protocol television client devices selectedfrom the group consisting of internet protocol television client devicesthat are receiving the geographically restricted video data in each ofthe at least three geographic restriction zones and new internetprotocol television client devices in each of the at least threegeographic restriction zones.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein thegeographic restriction zones are based on physical proximity of aninternet protocol television client device to a geographic origin of thegeographically restricted video data.
 16. The system of claim 9, whereinthe geographic restricted data is available with a shorter time delay ina geographic restriction zone farther from the geographic origin of thegeographically restricted video data.
 17. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising: a second client device processor interface for sending arequest for the selected geographically restricted video data segment toan internet protocol television server; and a third client deviceprocessor interface for determining at least three different durationtime delays for each of at least three geographic restriction zones,wherein the at least three geographic restriction zones are based onphysical proximity of an internet protocol television client device to ageographic origin of the geographically restricted video data.
 18. Anon-transitory machine readable medium containing data for use by acomputer in executing instructions, comprising: instructions for ageographical radius restriction distances field for containing datawhich indicates a radius for geographical restriction zones relative toa video event location, wherein the computer determines at least threedifferent duration time delays for each of at least three geographicrestriction zones, wherein the at least three geographic restrictionzones are based on physical proximity of an internet protocol televisionclient device to a geographic origin of the geographically restrictedvideo data.
 19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 18,the non-transitory machine readable medium further comprising: a firstrestriction zone price field for containing data indicating a fee forviewing the geographically restricted video data at a set top box in afirst restriction zone associated with the video data identifier; and arestriction zone radius field for containing data indicating a radius ofa second restriction zone relative to the video event location; and asecond restriction zone price field for containing data indicating a feefor viewing the geographically restricted video data segment data in asecond restriction zone associated with the video data identifier. 20.The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 18, thenon-transitory machine readable medium further comprising: a thirdrestriction zone radius field for containing data indicating a radius ofa third restriction zone relative to the event location; and a thirdrestriction zone price field for containing data indicating a fee forviewing the geographically restricted video data associated with thevideo data identifier at a client device in the third restriction zone.